Hand luggage



Nov. 2l 1926.

E. ELLICWT HAND LUGGAGE ed Feb. 19

mit.

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

Yn airi?,N straits .BAMFORD ELLIOTT, OIE? incasseren,

IIIASSACHIJ'SETTS,

' rriee;

LEATHER GOODS COIVIPANY, OF` VJORCESTER,IASSACHUSE'ITS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

HAND LUGGAGE.

Application filed February 13, 1325. Serial No. 10,405.

This invention relates to hand luggage such as suit-cases, hand-bags,lunch-kits and other similar articles.

It is the general object of my invention tov improve the construction ofsuch articles, to thel end that they may be more easily and economicallymanufactured; that they may have greater strength and durability, andthat they may more effectively protect the contents thereof.

A further object is to combine increased strength with light Weight. vTothe attainment of these objects, one important feature of my inventionrelates to the provision of a laminated `vvood body and cover, soconstruetedand joined together that greatly increased strength isobtained thereby.

Further features of my invention relate to the construction of a`suit-case or other similar article from a reduced number of pieces ofbody material and also to certain improvements in details ofconstruction to be hereinafter described and more particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in Which-Fig. 1 is a perspective vievv of a suit-case embodying my improvements;and

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail sectional views, taken along the lines 2-2,3-3 and 4 4 in Fig. 1. j

Referring to the drawings, I have shown my improvements as embodied in asuitcase which is in general of the usual appearance and comprises abody portion having a back 10, sides 11 and ends 12. The suit-case isalso provided With a cover portion comprising a top 13 (Fig. 3), sideedge portions 14 and end edge portions 15.

In forming both the body and cover of my improved articles of luggage, Ipreferably construct the same from sheets of laminated Wood. In thedrawings, I have shown these parts as constructed from three-ply bassWood veneer, this material being particularly well adapted for thepurposes of my invention.

In forming the body, I taire a sheet of llaminated wood or veneer 20 andglue or cement a suitable covering material 21 thereto. I have foundthat a light duct or drillin having' an enameled or Water-proof coatingapplied thereto is Well suited for the outer covering. I mayalso applytothe -inside of the laminated Wood an inner cover-k Wood it isdesirable to soften the material by the application of heat and moisturethereto, after Which the material lmay bev easily bent to form thebottom -10 and the sides 11. I may` also form an offset edge portion 23at the same bending operation.

rIhe ends 12 of the `body may beformed from separate pieces of laminatedWood and covering material inserted at the ends of the' body and formingbutt joints with theback and sides, as indicated in Fig. 4. I thenfinish these joints or corners by applying 'a strip of leather 24 aboutthe corner and securing it in place by several lines of stitches 25extending through the strip 24 and through the sheets of laminated vvoodforming the back 10, sides 11, and end 12.

Additional corner pieces 26 (Fig. 1) may be stitched outside of thestrips 24 if so desired, forming further protection for the corners ofthe suit-case.

I have shovvn the body of my improved suit-case as provided with a framemember 27 (Fig. 2) of rectangular steel, positioned just Within theouter edge of the body and secured in place by folding the coveringmaterial 21 about the edge of the body andl about the frame member 27and by securing the same in position by stitches 28 extending throughthe inner and outer layers of the material 21 and through the laminatedWood 20.

The cover of my improved suit-case is similarly formed, With the sideedge por.- tions 14 preferably continuous With the top 13. A fiat steelband 30 re-inforces the cover and is secured Within the ledge portion ofthe cover by bringing the outer covering material 31 around the edge ofthe cover and over the band and cementing or gluing the same. to theinside of the cover above the band. I also preferably insert a line ofstitches 32 at the edge of the cover, these stitches extending through`both the inner and outer layers of the covering maassrenon "rovvzlinimn.`

terial and through the extreme edge portion of the laminated wood andclosely adjacent the steel band 30.

The preferred construction of the lami-l nated wood is indicated in Fig.3, in which three layers of wood are shown with the grain in alternatelayers running in different directions. f

A suit-case or other article of hand luge gage constructed as abovedescribed has been found to be exceedingly strong and durable, while atthe same time it is light in weight and very firmly resists distortion.The smooth and evenly rounded corners which results from my improvedmethodV of construction aid greatly to the appearance ofthe article, andthe water-proof outer coveringprotects it from rain and moisture.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as setforth in the claims, but what I claim is l. In a piece of hand luggage,a body formed of laminated wood and comprising back, sides and ends, thesides being continuous with the back and the sides and ends being offsetinwardly adjacent their edges, a steel frame member fitted within saidotiset edges, and a sheet of covering material secured to the outer faceof said laminated wood and folded about said frame member and stitchedto the wood adjacent the lower edge of said frame member.

2. In a piece of hand luggage, a cover having its top portion and sideedge portions formed of a single piece of laminated wood bent to providesmoothly rounded corners, a steel band fitted within the edge portionsof said cover, and a sheet of cover ing material secured to the outsideof said laminated wood and folded inward about the edge thereof and oversaid steel band, said covering material being also secured by a row ofstitches extending through the outer and inner layers of said coveringmaterial and through the eXtreme edge portions of said laminated woodbeyond said steel frame'but closely adjacent thereto.

3. A piece of hand luggage comprising body and cover portions eachformed of laminated wood and reinforced within its outer edge by a framemember, covering material for each portion secured thereto, saidcovering material being turned in- `.vardly over the edge of eachportion and stitched adjacent each of said frame mem bers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

BAMFORI) ELLIOTT.

